Already boasting a lengthy injury list, Schalke coach Markus Weinzierl will be without Naldo this weekend. The defender is banned after seeing red in Matchday 14's home defeat to Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Fortunately for Weinzierl, club captain Benedikt Höwedes will return after missing that defeat through suspension. His fellow centre-back Matija Nastasic is expected to miss out through injury, but Sead Kolasinac (calf) and striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (illness) should be fit to feature after sitting out training in midweek.

Watch: Highlights of Schalke's 1-0 loss to Leverkusen on Matchday 14:

Freiburg coach Christian Streich has no new injury concerns ahead of the visit to Gelsenkirchen. Amir Abrashi is available, but the current preferred holding midfield pairing is Julian Schuster and Mike Frantz. Further forward, Nils Petersen, who scored the late winner against SV Darmstadt 98 on Matchday 14, could be in contention for a start, as could Maximilian Philipp, who has overcome injury.